Larwood daughter hears Major's Yorkshire tribute
Yorkshire Vice-President and former Chairman Keith Moss greets former Prime Minister Sir John Major KG, CH at the 364 Club annual lunch which was attended by over 300 enthusiasts in the Long Room at Headingley Carnegie.
The lunch is organised by Keith, and is dedicated to the memory of Sir Leonard Hutton - who scored 364 for England v. Australia at The Oval in 1938 before becoming a victorious captain of England after the war and Yorkshire President at the time of his death in 1990.
Keith, a close friend and neighbour of Sir Leonard at Pudsey, is now president of the famous St Lawrence Club where Len started out - and is also president of the Bradford Cricket League.
Sir John, Prime Minister from November 1990 to May 1997, is a member of the MCC Committee, and was president of Surrey from 2000 to 2002. He was given a prolonged standing ovation after holding his audience spellbound with a subtle blend of cricket and political reminiscences. He answered questions from the floor candidly, and with a great deal of good humour.
One who was delighted to hear him speak was Harold Larwood’s daughter, Enid Todd, who is on a visit to England from Australia - her stay coinciding with the launch of Duncan Hamilton’s authorised biography of the great Nottinghamshire and England fast bowler.
Larwood was the main weapon in England captain Douglas Jardine’s armoury when they beat Australia in the 1932-33 Bodyline series - but it was not until Sir John's time as Prime Minister that Harold was awarded the MBE. Sir John revealed that had it been solely up to him the honour would have been an even higher one.
Enid said later that she had been most touched by Sir John’s remarks about her father, and added: “He always said he would have liked some recognition for his cricket achievements, and he was so proud when he learned he was to receive the MBE.”
Although Larwood caused such a furore in Australia at the time, he settled in Sydney with his wife and five daughters after the war. He and his family were well received and hugely respected.
DAVID WARNER